Bill Maher Scoffs At NPR No Bias Claim

Bill Maher, the host of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, recently expressed support for cutting federal funding to public broadcasting outlets like NPR and PBS. His stance came during his online "Overtime" segment Friday, following a viewer question about the testimony of NPR CEO Katherine Maher (no relation to Bill) and PBS CEO Paula Kerger. The two executives had appeared before the House of Representatives' Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE) subcommittee on March 26, 2025, defending their organizations against Republican accusations of left-wing bias and arguing for the continued necessity of taxpayer support.

Bill Maher

During the segment, Bill Maher specifically criticized Katherine Maher’s claim that NPR is "unbiased," scoffing at her assertion with a blunt, "Give me a break, lady. I mean, they're crazy far-left." 

He argued that the United States has moved beyond an era where government subsidies for such outlets are justified, stating, "We’re so polarized. These outlets became popular at a time when Republicans and Democrats didn’t hate each other and weren’t at each other’s throats and didn’t think each other was an existential threat." Maher suggested that in today’s hyper-partisan climate, NPR and PBS should operate without federal backing, aligning himself with Republican calls to defund these entities.

The backdrop to Maher’s comments was a contentious Capitol Hill hearing where GOP lawmakers, led by figures like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, grilled the CEOs over alleged bias in their programming. 

Katherine Maher

Katherine Maher had emphasized NPR’s role in providing "unbiased, nonpartisan, fact-based reporting" and highlighted its unique contributions, like being the only non-paywalled news outlet with a dedicated veterans’ issues reporter. However, she faced scrutiny over past social media posts reflecting progressive views—such as calling America "addicted to white supremacy" and downplaying looting—which she distanced herself from, claiming her thinking had "evolved." She also acknowledged NPR’s initial dismissal of the Hunter Biden laptop story in 2020 as a "mistake."

Maher’s rejection of NPR’s unbiased label and his support for defunding echo a broader conservative push, amplified by figures like Elon Musk and President Trump, to strip public media of federal support, which currently flows through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (amounting to $535 million for fiscal year 2025). Critics, including Maher, argue that these outlets cater to a narrow, ideologically aligned audience rather than the diverse public they’re meant to serve. 

His comments mark a notable shift for the comedian, known for his liberal leanings, though he’s increasingly critiqued progressive excesses in recent years. This stance has sparked varied reactions, with some on platforms like X noting it as evidence of even left-leaning figures turning against NPR’s perceived slant.